Priority 2: Science to understand connections between people and natural environments

Decisionmakers and planners told us they need current information about how people value and use public lands. They also need information about the goods and services these lands provide, such as water, wood products, livestock forage, fish, wildlife habitat, recreation opportunities, culturally important resources, food and fuel sources, and carbon sequestration.

We recognize the need to expand the diversity of viewpoints in natural resource decisionmaking and develop models for shared stewardship.

Working across scientific disciplines is critical to this research priority because partners repeatedly told us they could make better sense of the “triple bottom line”—that is economic, ecological, and social sustainability—if socioeconomic research were better integrated across all research areas.

Potential outcomes of work under this priority

Information and tools to help managers at all levels of the agency create opportunities for meaningful public engagement, provide visitors with range of recreational opportunities, and encourage a diversity of people to experience the benefits of nature while protecting ecosystems. 

This includes new information about:

• Trends in outdoor recreation visitation and tourism and how to best monitor these activities. 
• Market opportunities for forest products from Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. 
• The benefits that people receive from trees, forests, and nature and the ecosystem services they provide. 
• Ways in which people adapt to and mitigate risks associated with wildfire, climate change, and other disturbances. 
• The sustainability of rural and urban communities.